Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


Weather Forecasts are available across our radio stations each day and also as your fingertips! 

Connect with The National Weather Service's Buffalo Office or with WGRZ-TV for accurate weather information!

 

 

 


 

WJTN News Headlines for Apr. 25, 2018

A pair of Jamestown brothers have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possession with the intent to sell and, trafficking methamphetamine...  
 
U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior said yesterday that 33 year-old Matthew Jones and 31 year-old Beau Jones entered the plea before federal Judge Lawrence Vilardo in Buffalo.  Kennedy says Matthew Jones pleaded guilty to a conspiracy involving five-grams or more of methamphetamine and faces  five to 40 years in prison, and a $5-million fine.  He says Beau "K.C." Jones pled guilty to a conspiracy involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and, faces 10 years to life in prison, and a $10-million fine.  The prosecutor in the case says both men were arrested on December 1st of 2016 after a shipment of more than 360-grams of meth was delivered in the mail to the brothers at Matthew Jones' residence at 70 Colfax Street.  Shortly after the delivery, Beau Jones was arrested during a traffic stop by police and the parcel containing the meth was found in his car.  Matthew Jones was arrested later that day during a separate car stop, and a safe was found in the trunk containing an another approximately 80-grams of meth.
 
 
President Donald Trump's escalating dispute with China over trade and technology is threatening jobs and profits in working-class communities where his "America First" agenda hit home with voters...  
 
The Commerce Department has received more than 2,400 applications from companies seeking waivers from the Trump administration's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that may result in millions of dollars in duties.  The department has begun posting the requests online for a public comment period, and several of the applications released so far suggest there are some misgivings with Trump's strategy -- especially in areas where he won strong support in the 2016 election. 
 
 
Chautauqua County's Congressman is encouraging businesses that want to apply for the waiver from the steel and aluminum tariffs to do so...  
 
But, Corning Republican Tom Reed insists that the president's proposal is not a "protectionist" policy.  Still, he says China has been the least likely nation to play by the rules of trade.  Reed says no tariffs have been imposed yet, so there should be no impact on prices being paid for those items that might be in the future.
 
Reed says he believes the threat of tariffs by the Trump Administration seem to already have Chinese leaders signaling a possible change in the way they handle "intellectual property."  He says the Chinese President recently said they were going to allow non-Chinese ownership of interests in that country, which he called a "significant shift."  Reed made his comments during his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.  
 
 
It will cost you more to fill up your gas tank this week in Jamestown...  
 
That from the AAA's weekly gas price report, which says the cost per gallon of regular, unleaded fuel is up 8-cents to $2.88.  Officials say six Mid-Atlantic and Northeast States are in the "Top-10" largest price increases, including New York.  Pennsylvania's gas price average is inching close to the three-dollar mark, coming in at $2.97 on the week.  AAA registers consumer fuel demand at 9.85-million barrels per day, which is the highest record ever recorded for the month of April and summer demand measurements.  Nationally, the gas price average rose by a nickel to $2.76 a gallon.
 
 
The city of Jamestown is holding it's own financially through the first quarter of 2018, but there are some areas of concern that need to be watched...  
 
That from City Comptroller Joe Bellitto, who reported to the city council on finances for the first three-months of the year during Monday night's work session.  Bellitto says revenues were "within budget estimates..." but, adds that PILOT payments from the Board of Public Utilities were up.
 
Bellitto says, though, that there are a couple of spending lines that are causing some concern right now.  He says the first-- due to the prolonged winter weather-- overtime use was high in both the Public Works and Parks Departments.  In fact, he says they've used about 44-percent of that budget so far.  That's about 7-percent higher than last year at this time.  Bellitto says the other area of concern is the salt and snow removal budget, which the city has already used 67-percent of in 2018.  However, he says the city had used about 92-percent of it's $450,000 budget by this time last year. 
 
 
A Jamestown cab driver has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $7,500 from Medicaid by illegal billing for phony medical transports...  
 
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says Haimid "Mookie" Thompson is then accused of paying another man to claim that he was getting the rides from 716 Transportation when he wasn't.  Schneiderman says the other man was an undercover officer with the A-G's office who was part of "Operation Ghost Ride," which has been investigating Medicaid transit scams across the state.  He says the Medicaid rides never took place.  Schneiderman says Thompson faces charges including Felony first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and falsifying business records. 
 
 
Charges are pending for a teen-aged driver following a motor vehicle accident that left two people injured Monday morning in the Town of Hanover...  
 
Sheriff's deputies responded to the two-car crash on Routes 5 and 20 and Hanford Road shortly after 11:30.  Officers say a vehicle operated by 18 year-old Brett Logan made a right-hand turn and failed to yield to the right of way at a stop sign.  Logan struck a vehicle driven by 27 year-old Alfred Ford of Brocton, which was westbound on Routes 5 and 20.  Deputies say Ford and his passenger were transported to Lakeshore Hospital for minor injuries.  The investigation continues.  
 
 
Seventeen "superhero" volunteers were recognized at last night's annual reception hosted by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County...  
 
The United Way holds it's annual Volunteer of the Year Recognition at the Boys and Girls Club in Jamestown.  Executive Director Amy Rohler has only been director a short time, having come over from Community Helping Hands.  But, she knows the value of volunteers in the community.
 
Rohler says they recognized Rachel Ludwig as volunteer of the year for the Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center and Erwin Howard for Chautauqua Striders.  Others included Cynde Johnson with CASA of Chautauqua County, Fran Michalak with the Girls Scouts and Elva Duckworth with Junior Achievement.  Joan Yost was recognized by The Resource Center; and Sally Patchen and Linnea Himes for Meals on Wheels.